Tesseract – Ensemble Version (2017)

Historically ranging from intricate thought experiments to the evocation of omnipotent vessels with the ability to bend the immensity of space-time, the hypercube – or “tesseract” – has been a commonly drawn upon entity eliciting a multidimensional perspective. Though this geometric figure has been associated with supernatural and metaphysical capabilities throughout literature and film, the tesseract is simply the four-dimensional analog of a cube similar to the relationship between a two-dimensional square and the three-dimensional cube.

Tesseract, originally written for solo vibraphone and prerecorded mallet keyboards (also available through Tapspace), is the result of my exploration between the multiple aural “dimensions” unique to these instruments and the rhythmic capabilities they so naturally manifest. Rather than leading the listener through a programmatic narrative, the soloist acts as a sort of constant between the evolving layers and textures throughout, much like the tesseract serves as a point of reference to the fourth dimension. This work draws notable inspiration from the hypnotic and visceral music of Nils Frahm, Dawn of Midi, and Alejandro Viñao.

This percussion ensemble arrangement was commissioned by James Campbell and the University of Kentucky Percussion Ensemble and premiered in April 2017.